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The geology and mica fields of the Harts Range, central Australia

Citation

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Abstract

In July, 1949, the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics began an investigation of the geology and mineral resources
of the Harts Range Region, Central Australia, an area of about 2,000 square miles between Latitudes 23° 00' south and 23°
30' south, and Longitudes 12:3° 45' east and 135° 30' east. The undertaking was prompted by the discovery of small amounts
of radioactive minerals in pegmatites in the eastern portion of the range. It was soon realized that the deposits of radioactive
minerals were not of economic size, and the investigation was therefore extended to other mineral deposits, and in particular
to the mica deposits of the Harts Range and Plenty River.he Harts Range and Plenty River Mica Field is the most. Important
in Australia, and had yielded 859.49 tons of commercial muscovite .valued at £692,794 to the end of 1952. The investigation
of the field was carried out in field seasons between July, 1949, and October, 1951. The mica-bearing pegmatites occur in
the rocks of the Harts Range Group, a complex of metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks probably of Archaeozoic age.